%%%%%%%%
%%%% %%%%
%% %%
% %
% %
% THE GLASS FACTORY. %
% %
% %
%% %%
%%%% %%%%
%%%%%%%%
#@@¤*%/~-. SEVERAL CENTURIES AFTER IT HAD LAST .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. BELONGED TO US, WE WENT ON AN OUTING TO ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. THE GLASS FACTORY THAT BORE OUR FAMILY .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. NAME. IT HAD CHANGED OWNERS MANY TIMES ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. SINCE OUR ANCESTORS DEATH, AND THEN .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. STOOD ABANDONED FOR A LONG WHILE. ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. FINALLY, THE NATURAL END STATION FOR .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. THE BUILDINGS THAT SURVIVE: A MUSEUM, ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. AND A GIFT SHOP. .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. THERE'S A LONG TIME SINCE MY FAMILY .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. MADE ANYTHING. BY MANY, WE WOULD BE ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. CONSIDERED POOR. .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. THERE ARE TWO MAIN FACTORY BUILDINGS, .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. DOMED THINGS OF SEVERAL FLOORS, MADE IN ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. YELLOW BRICK. LARGE BUT NARROW WINDOWS, .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. REMINESCENT OF SOME CATHEDRAL. ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. CUSTOM-MADE GLASS, OF COURSE, LARGE AND .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. LEADED, AND ASHEN. A BIT TOO DARK TO BE ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. PRACTICAL. ON THE EASTERN BUILDING, .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. SOME ARE SHATTERED. ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. THE OTHER ONE IS PUBLICLY OPEN. THERE'S ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. A MUSEUM, WITH WAX FIGURES OF MY GREAT .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. GREAT GREAT GRANDFATHER, OR SOMETHING. ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. VARIOUS TOOLS (OR REPLICAS) LAID OUT ON .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. TABLES, WITH EXPLAINING TEXTS. A LOT OF ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. GLASS OF VARYING THICKNESS. .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. %% .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. %% %% ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. ~~~~~~~ % % ~~~~~~~ .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. %% %% ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. %% .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. I QUICKLY SNEAK OUT, AND CLIMB INTO THE .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. OTHER BUILDING. THE CONTRAST IS ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. OVERWHELMING. IT MUST HAVE STOOD .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. DERELICT FOR A LONG TIME, WINDOWS ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. BROKEN, METALLIC TRASH AND POOLS OF .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. DARK GLASS ALL OVER THE FLOOR. NO ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. ELECTRIC LIGHTS, BUT I CAN SEE BY THE .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. LIGHT THAT SHINES IN WHEREVER THE DARK ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. WINDOWS ARE MISSING A PANE. .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. HOWEVER, THE GREATEST DIFFERENCE IS THE .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. HIGHER FLOORS: THIS BUILDING HAS NONE. ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. IT IS ONE MASSIVE HALL, STRETCHING AWAY .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. INFINITELY ABOVE ME. SOMEWHERE UP THERE ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. IS SOME GREAT IRON LATTICEWORK, FROM .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. WHERE CHAINS ARE SUSPENDED, AND PARTS ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. OF MACHINERY HAS BEEN FALLING DOWN. .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. THERE IS, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GREAT .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. HALL, A THIN SPIRAL STAIRCASE THAT ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. LEADS UP THERE. I SNEAK OVER THERE, AND .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. TAKE A FEW RELUCTANT STEPS. AFTER JUST ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. A REVOLUTION, I NOTICE THAT FOR EACH .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. STEP THE BUILDING STARTS TO GLOW, THE ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. BRICKS TURNING A DARK RED, AND THEN .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. ORANGE, ALL THE PILED UP DEBREE BEING ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. LIT FROM BEHIND. .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. I STOP READY TO RUN DOWN AND OUT, BUT .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. THERE'S SOMEONE ELSE ON THE STAIRCASE ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. WITH ME NOW, PRESSED CLOSE. HE'S .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. LOOKING LIKE ME, SHORT HAIR AND THIN ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. ARMS, BUT WITH EARS FROM SOME ANIMAL, .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. AND MORE DISTURBINGLY, COMPLETELY MADE ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. OF DARK LIQUID GLASS. .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. %% .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. %% %% ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. ~~~~~~~ % % ~~~~~~~ .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. %% %% ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. %% .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. MY FEAR HOLDS ME IN PLACE WHILE HE .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. STARTS OPERATING LEVERS AND DIALS SET ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. IN THE CENTER OF THE STAIRCASE. SLOWLY, .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. IT STARTS SPINNING, CIRCLING UPWARDS. ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. IT'S AN ELEVATOR! I START TO RUN .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. DOWNWARDS, BUT NOW THE LIQUID BOY ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. CREATURE GRABS HOLD OF ME. I TRY TO .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. SHAKE HIM OFF, BUT HE'S TOO STRONG, AND ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. PULLS ME BACK UP BESIDE HIM. .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. THIS TIME, I TURN ANGRY INSTEAD. WHAT .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. THE HELL? WHO IS THIS GUY, ACTING LIKE ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. THIS? I REACH OUT MY FREE ARM AND SLAM .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. A RANDOM LEVER. SOME METAL BAR IS ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. SUDDENLY RELEASED BETWEEN US, HITTING .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. HIM ON THE ARM, FORCING MY RELEASE. I ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. SHOVE HIM OFF OF ME, AND HE FALLS INTO .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. THE LEVERS, MESSING THEM UP. ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. IMMEDIATELY, A THIN RUSTY CHAINMAIL .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. CURTAIN IS DROPPED AROUND ME. BUT THE ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. ELEVATOR ALSO SPEEDS UP SIGNIFICANTLY. .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. THE WALLS ARE FLARING NOW, YELLOW, .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. WHITE, ALMOST BLUE. I CLOSE MY EYES AND ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. CURL INTO A BALL. BUT THEN, THE GLASS .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. BOY SCREAMS, A PIERCING SOUND THAT ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. FORCES MY EYES BACK OPEN. I WATCH AS HE .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. BECOMES TOO LIQUID, HIS BODY POOLING ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. DOWN IN HIS NOW MASSIVE TAIL, AND THE .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. TIP OF IT SUDDENLY BREAKS OF IN A GLASS ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. DROP THAT FALLS TOWARD THE FACTORY .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. FLOOR. ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. HE'S CRAWLING ON THE STAIRS, UNABLE TO ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. KEEP HIS BODY UPRIGHT. CAN'T REACH THE .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. LEVERS, CLAWS AT MY CHAINMAIL CAGE, ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. WHILE HIS BODY IS TURNING INTO DARK .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. PEARLS. FINALLY, HE'S LOST TOO MUCH OF ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. HIMSELF AND THE SCREAM IS CUT SHORT. .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. THE LAST OF HIM RAINS DOWN. ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. I STILL CAN'T REACH THE LEVERS FROM ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. WITHIN MY CAGE. LOOKING UP, I TRY TO .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. MAKE OUT THE CEILING, BUT IT'S ALL A ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. WHIRLING SEA OF COLOURS. BELOW ME GLOWS .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. THE HELLFIRE OF THE FACTORY WALLS, BUT ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. VERY FAINT. I SIT DOWN, CURL BACK UP, .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. BECOME STILL. ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. %% ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. %% %% .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. ~~~~~~~ % % ~~~~~~~ ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. %% %% .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. %% ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. A LARGE CLUNK SHAKES MY ENTIRE BODY, ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. AND SNAPS ME BACK INTO REALITY. I'M .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. BACK AT THE FACTORY FLOOR, BUT THE ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. STAIRS ARE STILL MOVING SLIGHTLY, .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. CLICKING IN PLACE, CARRYING ME THE LAST ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. FEW CENTIMETERS. I CAME FROM BELOW, .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. SOMEHOW. THE CHAINMAIL IS RETRACTED, ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. AND I SLOWLY DISMOUNT THE STAIRS. .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. SHAKING AND CRYING, I MAKE MY WAY OVER .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. THE FACTORY FLOOR, WADING THROUGH DARK ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. GLASS MARBLES. A QUICK GLANCE DOWN, AND .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. I SEE THERE'S SOMETHING FAINT INSIDE ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. THEM. EMBRYOS? ARE THESE EGGS? .-~/%*¤@@#
@@¤*%/~-.. ..-~/%*¤@@
#@@¤*%/~-. I SHUDDER, AND CLIMB BACK OUT. .-~/%*¤@@#
%%
%% %%
% %
%% %%
%%